Apparatus and method for preventing moisture condensation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10847819-B2
Application number	US-201816044102-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 24, 2018
Priority date	Nov 20, 2014
Publication date	Nov 24, 2020
Grant date	Nov 24, 2020

Abstract

An apparatus for preventing moisture condensation includes a fuel cell stack and an enclosure in which the fuel cell stack is disposed. A heater and a temperature sensor are provided in the enclosure. A controller is configured to control the heater to be turned on when an insulation resistance between the fuel cell stack and the enclosure is less than a preset resistance value. The controller controls the heater not to be turned on when a surface temperature of the enclosure measured by the temperature sensor exceeds a preset temperature.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for preventing moisture condensation, comprising:
measuring a dew point temperature inside an enclosure of a fuel cell stack and a surface temperature of the enclosure by a temperature sensor;
determining whether or not the dew point temperature is greater than or equal to the surface temperature;
determining whether the surface temperature exceeds a preset temperature;
controlling a heater to be turned on when the dew point temperature is greater than or equal to the surface temperature and when the surface temperature of the enclosure is equal to or less than the preset temperature;
controlling a warning device to be turned on when the surface temperature of the enclosure exceeds the present temperature.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sensing a starting-on signal of a vehicle;
determining whether an average voltage per cell of the fuel cell stack is greater than a first voltage when the starting-on signal is sensed;
controlling the heater to be turned on for the predetermined period of time when the average voltage per cell of the fuel cell stack is greater than the first voltage;
determining the average voltage per cell of the fuel cell stack is equal to or less than a second voltage after the heater is turned on; and
controlling the heater to be turned off when the average voltage per cell of the fuel cell stack is equal to or less than the second voltage.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sensing a vehicle stop signal or a shut-down signal;
controlling the heater to be turned on when the stop signal or shut-down signal is sensed;
determining whether an average voltage per cell of the fuel cell stack is equal to or less than a second voltage after the heater is turned on; and
controlling the heater to be turned off when the average voltage per cell of the fuel cell stack is equal to or less than the second voltage.

4. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium comprising computer executable instructions of which cause a controller to perform the method according to claim 1 .

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising controlling a heater not to be turned on for a predetermined period of time when the surface temperature of the enclosure exceeds the preset temperature.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Motors Corp

Inventors

• Yu Jung Han
• Suh Jung Do
• Kim Ju Han
• Kim Duck Whan
• Im Se Joon
• Noh Young Woo

Classifications

• H01M8/04701

  Temperature · CPC title

• H01M8/04223 Primary

  during start-up or shut-down; Depolarisation or activation, e.g. purging; Means for short-circuiting defective fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/04552

  of the individual fuel cell · CPC title

• Y02T90/40

  Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/04649

  of fuel cell stacks · CPC title